Chinook, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chinook, Washington
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Location of Chinook, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Pacific |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) |
| • Land | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 457 |
| • Density | 457/sq mi (176/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98614
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-12315 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512091 |
Chinook is a small community in Pacific County, Washington, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government. In 2020, about 457 people lived there.
Contents
History of Chinook
Chinook has an interesting past, especially for a small place. It was very important in the early days of Pacific County.
Early Beginnings
In 1853, Chinook was chosen as the location for the very first court in Pacific County. This shows how important it was back then. Later, in 1870, the first salmon cannery in the county was built here. This was a big deal because salmon fishing was a huge industry.
Salmon and Railroads
Chinook was once a very rich town because of all the salmon caught nearby. For a long time, it was hard to get to Chinook by road. A bridge was finally built across the Chinook River in 1891, connecting it to the town of Ilwaco.
Later, a special narrow-gauge railroad was built. It ran from Megler all the way to Ilwaco, passing right through the main street of Chinook. This railroad helped people and goods move around. However, the railroad was taken apart in 1931.
Geography of Chinook
Chinook is located in a beautiful spot in Washington state.
Location and Size
The community covers about 1.0 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within its official boundaries.
Near the Columbia River
Chinook sits right on Baker Bay. This bay is on the north side of the famous Columbia River. It's also very close to Cape Disappointment and where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean.
People of Chinook (Demographics)
Learning about the people who live in Chinook helps us understand the community.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 457 | — | |
| 2010 | 466 | 2.0% | |
| 2020 | 457 | −1.9% | |
| US Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Population in 2020
According to the 2020 census, 457 people lived in Chinook. There were 282 homes and 131 families.
Most people in Chinook were White (408 people). There were also 13 Native Americans, 2 African Americans, and 2 Asians. Some people were from other backgrounds or a mix of two or more. About 25 people were of Hispanic or Latino origin.
Ancestry and Age
Many people in Chinook have roots from different parts of the world. For example, about 21.2% of the people had English ancestry. Other common backgrounds included Norwegian (10.8%), German (8.9%), and Irish (8.9%).
The average age in Chinook was about 58.5 years old. A good number of people, almost 30%, were between 75 and 84 years old. Also, about 10.8% of the people living in Chinook were veterans, meaning they had served in the military.
